tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2718860326518655248.post-28316651587812979652008-06-19T05:05:00.001-07:002008-06-19T05:22:13.782-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4iHxk7trZyE/SFpL2KopjaI/AAAAAAAAAYc/1T-ykVF71dY/s1600-h/Aqua+Lounge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_4iHxk7trZyE/SFpL2KopjaI/AAAAAAAAAYc/1T-ykVF71dY/s400/Aqua+Lounge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213562912574639522" /></a><br /><br />Last night <a href="http://www.aquabooks.ca/">Aqua Books</a> held a "Writer-In-Residence" welcoming reception for me, and truly, it was a night like no other!<br /><br />At the back of the stage, behind the podium, there were two lovely chaise lounges. In a blink we decided that we should take "residence" to a whole new level, and that I should read while lounging. We ended up doing away with the podium altogether. Kelly, owner of <a href="http://www.aquabooks.ca/">Aqua Books</a> and "mayor of Winnipeg's cultural city hall" introed me from one lounge, and then I gabbed and read from the other.<br /><br />It was totally fun. This morning there was a note in my inbasket from my friend and fellow writer Nathalie, who said: <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"You and Kelly Hughes should set up some comedy routine."</span><br /><br />Who knows? The only thing I do know is that hey, great things happen in the presence of Scmhoo cake.<br /><br />Oh...did I not mention the cake?<br /><br />Kelly's lovely wife, Candace, chef and owner of <a href="http://www.eatbistro.ca/">Eat! Bistro</a> located in the new <a href="http://www.aquabooks.ca/">Aqua Books</a>, baked us the most amazing Raspberry Angel Schmoo Cake. Oh...it was DIVINE!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4iHxk7trZyE/SFpOKZIz-ZI/AAAAAAAAAYk/cKOyAe_VsgI/s1600-h/schmoo+cake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_4iHxk7trZyE/SFpOKZIz-ZI/AAAAAAAAAYk/cKOyAe_VsgI/s400/schmoo+cake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213565459088275858" /></a><br /><br />p.s. Thank you to <a href="http://janedayreader.blogspot.com/">Ariel Gordon</a> for the photos, and for coordinating the whole wonderful evening :-)Anita Daherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03258818779322124700noreply@blogger.com